Switch



C. A. LANDIN SWITCH Filed June l2, 1930 lllllll l/ July 4, 1933.

lllllm I lll Il f// Patented `July 4, 1933 UNITED STATE-s P-A'rlazfNr OFFICE CARL A. LANDIN, or HAnTFoRn-CNNECTICUT, AssIGNoR 'ro THE HART MANFAC- VTUBING COMPANY, or HARTFORD, coNNEcTIcUT, AfcoR-PoRArioN orl CONNECTICUT SWITCH Application filed .Tune 12,

This invention has to do broadly with electric switches, and is more particularly concerned` with that type of. switch `which includes an operating member which serves to indicate the condition of theswitch.

The above noted type of switch is today meeting with widespread yuse in the field of electric ranges and cooking instrumentalities. Owing to the fact that it is of importance for the user of an electric rangerto be able to readily determine whether it is off or on, and if the latter is the case to what degree the yheat is being applied, it vhasjbecome standard practice in this art to so mount the control switch for electric ranges and the like on the ranges themselves with the operating member of the switch arranged so that when it points upwardly the switch is in its off position. From this off position a turning of the switch in a clockwise direction will gradually cause the heat to be applied'in varying degrees. Normally one of these switches provides for an off position and three heating positions, low, medium, and high, all of which positions are spaced substantially ninety degrees'apart. y 1 Y Switches of this sort are mounted on ranges and the like in different manners, depending upon the requirements of the trade, or the design of the particularmanufacturer of products including a switch. Y

That is to say, the requirements in some instances are such that the switches have a predetermined angular position, and in other instances the switch will have adifferent angular position, and it is important, in order to meet these various requirements, to have a switch adaptable to use under'varying conditions. Moreover, it is highly desirable for a manufacturer of the switches toV be able to carry in stock one switch which will answer the varying conditions of installment of the trade. Y

Bearing this condition in'mind, this invention has in view, as its primary object, the provision of a switch of the above noted type which includes an operating member, together'with suitable means for adjusting the operating member with respect to the re mainder of the .switchmechanism so that it may point upwardly to indicate the ofi' position regardless of just whereor how the switch itself is mounted on anv electric range or the like. f. 'l

The invention also has, as an important 1930. serial 11054611685.-

. feature thereof, the provision of an operating member for switches of the above noted type whichmay be readily operatively connected to switches nowfbeing made without any substantial modification -in the construction of the latter. The inventionwishes to avoid any radical departure*y from the pres'- entdesign Vof the switches as a whole, but rather contemplates aslight change in the construction of the mechanism which operatively connects the operating member with the switch to provide the advantageous results above noted.

Furthermore, the invention has in view the provision of connections for the operating member of the switch hereinbefore mentioned which are of a highly simplified construction and which may be readily assembled with vthe remainder of the switchy mechanism. Other objects will be in part obvious and n; part pointed out more in detail hereina ter.

The invention accordingly consists in the pended claims.

For a full and more complete understandving of the invention reference mayY be had to the following description'and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l isa section through the operating member of a switch, togetherwith associated parts, embodying the improvements of this invention. This view is taken abouton the plane represented by the line l-lc-l of F igure 2.

VFigure 2 is a bottom plan view section on line 2-2 of F igure 1 showing the operating member per se with the connecting parts shown. l f

Figure 3 isaview similar to Figure l and taken about on the same plane as Figure l but with the connections for operatively connecting the operating member to a switch omitted. A

Figure 4 is asection taken aboutv on the plane represented by the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and showing the connections as they are being adjusted by a suitable tool.

Figure 5 is agroup Aperspective of they operating member, together with the various parts entering into the connection of the operating member with the switch andk Figure 6 is a perspective of one end of a tool which may be employed to adjust the operating member of the switch.

A switch adapted to receive and embody the improvements of this invention is clearly illustrated and described in the co-pending application of Hart, Serial Number 308,979, filed September 28, 1929, and such a switch is not, therefore, herein illustrated. It suf fices to say that a switch of the type described in the co-pending application is primarily designed for use on electric ranges and other electrical cooking instrumentalitie's and is characterized as having four distinct conditions which it may assume, depending on the position of the operating member. In one position all current to the electric range is cut off. This is what is known as the off position. In a second position, which is assumed when the operating member is at an angle of substantially ninety degrees, in a clockwise direction, from that assumed by it when in the olf position, the switch provides the current for a low heat in the cooking instrumentality. When the operating member is turned an additional quarter revolution the switch assumes the condition wherein the current supplied to the heaters provides for a. medium heat. Still another partial revolution of ninety degrees, in a clockwise direction of course, causes the switch to assume the position supplying an electric current for a high heat in the cooking instrumentality. 1When the operating member is turned ninety degrees from this high position it is brought back to the off position.

A switch, such as is shown and described in the copending application of Hart referred to ordinarily includes a spindle referred to as 10 and a driven member secured to the spindle. In the present instance, the driven member is shown, for illustrative purposes, as comprising a hub or sleevelike member 11 which is mounted on a plate 12, which in turn is positively fastened to the spindle 10, and these parts 11 and 12 constitute the controlling parts for the switch. That is, when the hub 11 is turned in one position, the

spindle 10 is turned and one of the conditions described in the preceding paragraph is assumed, and turning the same ninety degrees will cause the other conditions to ybe assumed in their regular order.

In accordance with the present invention, a handle or operating member 13, which is made in the shape of a pointer as clearly shown in Figure 2 and which has the point 14, is operatively connected to the hub 11 in such a manner as to permit of adjustment between the operating member 13 and the hub 11, and at the same time provide for a non-rotatable or driving connection between *to in any preferred manner, and is provided with a threaded opening as indicated at 17. A nut 18` is threaded on the reduced shank 19 of the stem 10 and serves to positively positionv the hub 11 and plate-12 with respect to the spindle 10.

The operating member 13 is of a recessed construction as clearly shown in the drawing. This construction may be described'as comprising a main recess or hollow 2O which is cutawayat diametrically opposite sides to provideV grooves 21 extending substantially the entire depth of the recess 20, there being a seat 22 formed on the bottom of therecess 20. Spaced an appreciable distance from the open end of the recess 2O the operating member 13 is provided with a circular groove or circumferential channel 23 which, of course,` cuts across and communicates with the lon gitudinal grooves 21. rlhe groove or channel 23 delines a shoulder which is formed due to the fact that the recess 2O is enlarged indiameter from the circular groove to the open end of the recess; A shallower circular tion of th-e member 13 at a point still nearer the mouthv of the recess 20. Located intermediate the grooves 21 on each side -of the opening 20 are twogrooves 25 which extend from the open end of the recess 20 down to the circulargroove 23. Y

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and A5, a hollow shank is shown at 26 as provided with threads 27 for a portion of its length. Fastened to one end of the shank 26 is a plate member 28 having diametrically opposed lugs 29 which are adapted to lit in the grooves 21 in the member 13 whereby relative rotation between the threaded shank 26 and the member 13 is prevented. A coil spring 30 of suitable design is located-in the recess 20 and surrounds the'shank26 and bears against the plate 28 at one end and against a ring member 31 at the other end. The ringmember 31 is provided with four lugs 32 which are equidistantly spaced apart about the periphery thereof. Obviously, the annular distance between these lugs is ninety degrees. These lugs are normally mairitained out of the circular groove 23 and in the longitudinal grooves21 and 25 by the spring 30, and when these'lugs 32 are located in the grooves 21 and 25 relative rotation between the ring member 31 and the operating'member 13 is positively prevented. However, when the ring member 31 is'moved downwardly towards the bottom ofthe recess 20 (upwardly with respect tothe showings of Figures 1 and 3) the lugs 32 are 95k groove 241 is also formed'in the bottom por-V with a lug 34 which projects radially inwardlyand fits into the slot 15 rwhen the operating member is assembled on the switch. Tt

is evident that when the lug 34 is positioned in the slot 15 and the lugs 32 are fitted in thegrooves 214and 25 a non-rotatable or driving connection between the operating member 13 and the hub 11 is provided. j

A retaining member 35 has a ringlike flange 36 which at times serves as an abutnient for 'the ring member 31 when the latter is urged outwardly of the recess 2O under the influence or the spring'30. The retaining member is also formed with fingers 37 which may be bent over to retain a washer 38 in position against the bottom face ofy the operating member 13. A spring clip in the torni kof' a split ring 39 is partially seated in the groove 24 and has a portion projecting radially inwardly which engages the iiange 35 of the retaining member135 to prevent the latter Jirom being moved' out of the recess 20 by the spring 30. i 2

in nassembling the above noted instrumentalit thethreaded shank 26 is first positioned in the recess 2O by properly locating the lugs 29 in the grooves 21, whereupon the plate 23 may be moved to the bottom of the recess 20. The coil spring` 30 is then positioned about the shank 2G, after which the ringmember 31 is fitted in the opening by causing the lugs 32 to enter into the grooves 21 and 25. This retaining member is moved down to a point past the groove 24, after which the retaining member 35 is fitted in the opening. The spring ring 39 is now positioned in the groove 24 and serves to hold the parts just described in their assembled relation.. y

Tt evident that the position of the lug 34 on the ring member 31 relative to the point 14 of the operating member 13 is the controlling factor as to the positioning of the latter wita respect to the switch and the off position thereof. This member 34 'its in the groove 15 and when so positioned establishes the driving connection between the opera'- ing` member 13 and the switch mechanism. The above described constructionprovides for the adjustment of the lug 34 with respect to the operating member 13, and which adjustment may be effected by the usek of som-c tool such that shown in Figure 6.v

This tool, which is referred to as 50, is preferably hollow, as shown at 51 and cut away at one end to provides shoulder 52, A notch 53 extends through both the cutaway and main portions of the tool yand is designed receive the lug 34. In using the tool 50 to adjust the lug 34 with respect to the operating member 13, the hollow end o' the tool is first inserted so that the hollow end receives the threaded shank 26 and the notch 53 receives the l'ug'34. The shoulder 52 engages the'cylindrical portion 33 of the ring member 31 so that the latter is moved downwardly in the opening 2OA (upwardly with respect to Figuresl and 3) so as to cause the lugs 32 to enter the groove 23. The tool may now be turned through the required annular distance to cause the lugs 32 to become aligned with the grooves 21 and 25 so that the lug 34 is properly positioned. `When this alignment has been obtained a removal of the ytool permits the spring 30 to urge'the ring member 31 outwardly of the recess 20, whereupon the lugs 32 enter their respective grooves 21 and 25' to establish the non-rotatable connection between the ring member and the member 13. j

The above described operating member and associated parts are connected to thehub 11V by screwing the threaded portion ofthe shank 2G into the threaded opening 17 in the plate 16. This is carried out until the lug 34 enters the Groove 15, and may be further carriedout to cause the lug 34 to be seated the proper distance in the slot 15 by compressing the spring 3C) suiiiciently to maintain the lug 34 out ot the groove 15 until the parts 26v and 16 have beenthreaded` together suiii- 'ciently far to cause the lug 34 to be properly seated when the spring is released. The compression of the spring 30 is effected by merely pulling outwardly on the operating member 13, which causes the plate member 28 to move outwardly of the socket member 20, whereby the spring is compressed. Itis preferable to screw the threaded portion 27 of the shank 26 entirely through the plate 16 by the above described operation so as to insure of the proper seating of the lug 34 in the slot 15.A v v f When it is desired to adjust the lug 34 so as to provide for the pointer 14 being in an upward position, regardless ofthe manner in which the switch has been applied to an electric range, it is necessary to first remove the operating member 13, together with the instrumentalities located in the socket 20, from the sleeve 11. This Yis a comparatively simple operation, as all that is necessary is to unscrew the shank 26 fromthe plate 16, which operation is permitted upon compression of the spring 30 sui'liciently far to cause the lug 34 to be moved out of the slot 15 in which it is positioned. After removal of the operating member they lug 34 may be adjusted in the manner above described.

The foregoing arrangement is not only of a comparatively simple construction from the manufacturers viewpoint, but also provides for a simple operation by the installer of the lswitch after it-leaves the manufaclib' turers hands. Any person installing the switch can readily adjust the klug 34 with respect to the operating member 18 through the use of atool such as the one shown in Figure 5, no skillbeing required to effect this adjustment. Moreover, proper operation of the switch when applied is insured, due to the tact that the lug 34C can be adjusted only upon removal of the operating member 13 from the switch, there being no positive relative movement between these parts when the switch and operating member are completely assembled.

it is further evident that the operating member 13, together with its associated parts, may be substituted in lieu of any ot the operating members now assembled with switches oithe type shown in the co-pending application of Hart.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely diilerent embodiments ot this `invention could be made Without departing from the'scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. l

It is also to be 'understood that the language usedin the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and speciic 'features of trie invention herein described andv all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter ot language, might be said to fall therebetween.

1What is claimed is:

l. An electric switch of the character described comprising a switch mechanism adapted to assume a plurality of positions whereby current supply to an electric range or the like is controlled, one ol said positions being off, and an operating member for the switch mechanism, aid operating member also constituting indicating means for indicating the position o'l the switch, said operating member being recessed, means in said recess or establishing a driving connection between the operating member and the switch mechanism, and means within said recess tor permittin the varying ot the position oi" the operating member with respect to the switch mechanism while each of said means is disposed within the recess.

2. An electric switch of the character described comprising` a switch mechanism having a spindle and a driven member fixed thereto, a handle constituting a pointer and having a recess adapted to receive the-end oi said spindle, a connecting member within said recess and having a detachable vinterlock with said driven member, said connecting member and handle havin g interengaging means whereby the connecting member maybe secured in various angular positions against rotation with respect to the handle, and

means within said recess for permitting the varying of thel position of the connecting member with respect to said handle while said connecting member isn-disposed within the recess.

3. An electric switch of the character described comprising a switch mechanism having a spindle and a driven member fixed thereto, a handle having a recess adapted to receive the end of said spindle, a connecting member within said recess and having a detachable interlock with said driven member, said handle and connecting member having detachable interlocking means for securing the connecting member in various angular positions against rotation to the handle, said connecting member being longitudinally movable in said recess to an inoperative position where said interlocking means between the connecting member and handle are disengaged, and means within said recess for permitting the varying of the position of the connecting member with respect to the handle when the connecting member is in inoperative position and while said connecting member is d'sposed within the recess.

el. An electric switch of the character described comprising a switch mechanism having a spindle and a driven member fixed thereto, a. handle having a pointer, a connecting member located in said handle and having a detachable interlock with said-driven member, said handle and connecting member having means whereby the connecting member may be interlocked with said handle iu various angular positions, said connecting member being movable into and out of interlocking relation to the handle, andmeans within said recess for permitting the varying ot the position of the connecting member with respect to the handle when the connecting member is in non-interlocking position and while said connecting member is disposed within said handle.

5. An electric switch of the character described comprising a switch mechanism having 'a spindle and a driven member liXed thereto, a handle constituting a pointer and having a recess adapted to receive the end or" said spindle, a connecting member within said recess and having a detachable interlock with said driven member, said connecting member having a lug and said recess having a plurality of angularly spaced grooves vin which said lug is adapted to selectively engage, said recess having a circumferential channel to which said grooves lead, said connecting member when located in the plane of said channel being adjustable, and means Jfor urging said connecting member out of said plane to engage the lug thereof in one oi' said grooves.

6. An electric switch of the character described comprising a switch mechanism having a spindle and a driven member iXed eeA 1,916,675 f Y Y 5 thereto, handle constituting a pointer and having a recess provided With longitudinallyr extending grooves and a circumferential channel, a connecting member having a detachable interlock with said ,driven4 member, said connecting member having a lug adapted to selectively engage in said longitudinal channel, a connecting member in said recess and having a detachable interlock with said driven member, said connecting member having lugs adapted tov selectively lit in said grooves, said connecting member being movable axially in said recess, and means for retaining said connecting member in said recess. y

8. An electric switch comprising aswitch mechanism having a spindle and a driven member fixed thereto, a handle constituting ,a pointer and having a recess provided with a 'circumterentialV channel and grooves extending longitudinally' therefrom, a connecting member located in said recess and having lugs adapted to engage in said grooves, spring means for maintaining said connecting member in a position Where the lugs are engaged in said grooves, said connecting member having a part adapted to interlock With said ldriven member, said connecting member being movable inwardly in said recess to a positionV Where it is in the plane of said chan-v .,the Walls of said recess also being formedV nel, and a Washerl closing a partof the open end of said recess. n. Y Y

9; A handle for use` in connection with switches having` a spindle provided with a .driven'member and including a handle member having a recess )i'ovided with longitudi- V 2 Y. v v f C nally extending grooves and a circumferential channel, a shank or the like sli-dably mounted in said recess and held against -rotation relative to said handle member,

sl ring normall holding the handle meine .Y s

ber against longitudinal,movement relativeV to'said shank, connecting membeiI in said recess and havinga detach able interlock with said driven member,'said connecting member having lugs adaptedto selectively engage in said grooves, said connectingV member being movable inwardly into thel plane of said channel Where it is angularly adjustable, and means for supporting the connecting member in a position Where 'the lugs .thereof are engaged in said grooves, said spring bearing on said connectingmember for urging the same against said supporting means.

l0. A handle for use in connection with switches having -a rotary spindle provided With a ldriven member Yand. including a handle member having a recess provided With annularly spaced apart grooves, and a circumferential channel connecting the grooves,

a connecting member in said recess and hav- 'ing a lug adapted to selectively engage in said grooves and also having a part adapted to be detachably interlocked with the driven member, and means for'supporting said connectingmemberina position Where thelug A thereof is engaged in a groove, 'said connecting memberlbeing movable into the plane of said channel to permit ofangular adjustment between. the handle member "and the connecting member. I .i I

l1. A handle for use in connection With switches having a 'rotary spindle provided With a driven member and including an indicating handle member provided-With a r-ecess having a circumferential vchannel "ad-f jacent the open end thereof, said lrecess also being formed with longitudinally extending grooves leading to said channel, a connectingmember having lugs adaptedl to lit inv said grooves,lsaid connecting member also having.l

a part adapted to interlock With sai-ddriven member, means for retaining said connecting member insaid recess, and a spring bearingupon said connecting member, said connecting member being angularly adjustable When in the plane Vof said channel.l f

l2. In an electric switch," an operating member having an indicating' pointer and.

provided with a recess the Walls ofwhich are formed 'With a. circumferentialchannel,

with longitudinally extending grooves leading to said channel, a shank or the like slidably mounted in said recess and held against rotation relative to said handle,- a spring normally holding the handlel member against longitudinal movement relative toV said shank,

a connecting member,vvithinsai'drecess and against Which one end of said spring is adapt-y ed to bear, said connecting' member having lugs adapted to selectively engage in` said adapted to seat. c

caniJ ii. LANDIN. 

